Oriental Dollarbird, ブッポウソウ

On June 24th we finally went to see the Dollar birds in Oita. I was worried that I had not understood the directions well, but it turned out ok. It was not too hard to find and even the camping car was no problem. Somehow, we never visited that area. It seems nice, I'd like to go back.

There were 2 birds, obviously a pair. One of them, the male I guess flew around regularly, the female was on the nest it seemed, but briefly made an appearance as well. It was after 4pm, but we had enough light. Lucky

Dollarbirds, ブッポウソウ

Very far, my 300mm lens with 2.0 tc can barely make it.
The couple is getting ready.

A bit of display by the male.

Off to get her a present.

And then the act

They visited the nest a few times. I hope to see the chicks next time.

At the island, 100 Flycatchers and a Dollarbird, ブッポウソウ

I went to Oro on the 12th. The weather was great. Sunny, warm, hardly any wind and not from the north. It was so very quiet in the morning, I walked around, but heard and saw nothing. Even crows, kites and bulbuls seemed to be sleeping. I had nearly given up, started to walk back to the harbor. A southern breeze had picked up. Suddenly I heard small voices, far but coming closer. Then I saw a Brown Flycatcher, and another one, another one, 2,3, more. There must have been a hundred! 100 or more!

Asian Brown Flycatcher, コサメビタキ

Every tree had 1 or 2. I searched the branches for something different

Far away was a Dark-sided Flycatcher, サメビタキ

And, much further in the distance a Dollarbird, ブッポウソウ

On the side of the road an Olive-backed Pipit, ビンズイ

1 single Intermediate Egret, チュウサギ

At sea: Streaked Shearwaters, オオミズナギドリ

Dollarbirds

After many days of very few birds we finally got lucky.

On Wednesday the 23rd of May birding friends took me to Kumamoto pref. to see Dollarbirds at a very scenic place called Naidaijin at the Midorigawa river. From a bridge we had a good view of a bird perching on a branch at about eye level. Soon another one showed up. 

ブッポウソウ,  Dollarbirds

The male watching his bride showing a little feather.

He frequently flew off to hunt

Coming back with little goodies (insects?) to please her.

The pair sitting together seemed very close, the way they preened and turned their heads in the same way at the same time.

The old bridge was very wobbly and whenever trucks came across it vibrated so much we grabbed the handrail and our cameras in fear! 

After a break for lunch we drove to the Kikuchi gawa river to see herons catching fish. (blog post will be published later) It was a good birding day.

対馬 Tsushima 2

In Sago, while waiting for the Black-capped Kingfisher Junko Minami spotted a Dollarbird, high up in a tree..

    ブッポウソウ, Dollarbird

A pretty female Narcissus Flycatcher (not as colorful as the male, but still nice) dropped by to check me out.

キビタキ, Narcissus Flycatcher

The next morning we received notice of yet another Black-capped Kingfisher in the north, so we drove up again, stopping occasionally at fields and forests, but didn't find anything special. Just a common (river) Kingfisher and some Grey-tailed Tattlers in a river somewhere in the wobwobs (forgot the name)

カワセミ, Common Kingfisher

キアシシギ, Grey-tailed Tattler

Back in the south we found the Yellow Wagtails still present and the Chinese Pond Heron doing us a huge favor by sitting quietly just by the side of the road.

 

マミジロツメナガセキレイ, Yellow Wagtail M f Simillima

アカガシラサギ, Chinese Pond Heron